Articles from Inspiration Sun
Welcome to Inspiration Sun, a new monthly magazine with contributions from students of Sri Chinmoy all over the world. Within its pages you can find the latest news and events from the Sri Chinmoy Centre, as well as interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students and personal recollections of some of the major events in Sri Chinmoy's life.
We know them as those two giggling Irish boys, the ones that work hard and are constantly joking around. Yet Colm and Shane have kept a secret their entire lives until now. In this special report, we speak to these happy-go-lucky characters who have decided to share with us their true nature. They are, in fact, Leprechauns. According to the recently released book How to Recognize a Leprechaun, a leprechaun (Irish: leipreachán) is a type of male fairy said to inhabit the island of Ireland. These quasi-historical peoples usually enjoy making mischief and are said to be very rich, having many treasure crocks buried during wartime. If one captures a Leprechaun he must be truthful and honest and tell you where he has hidden his treasure.Homagni: Shane, why have you decided to tell the world that you are a Leprechaun? Has it been tough hiding your secret all these years?
Shane: Well, I suppose it just dawned on me all of a sudden when some well-meaning person in passing referred to me as a human being. I was appalled!! I mean you guys have been repressing us for centuries, with your incessant demands for pots of gold and lucky charms, whatever they are. I just thought I should finally come out and say it - I'm green and I'm proud.
Homagni: Colm, Which stereotypes do you want to dismiss about leprechauns.
Colm: Well, I'd actually like to dismiss the whole leprechaun stereotype in general. I just think it's shocking that any one with an Irish accent who happens to smile now and then and is a tad vertically challenged gets labeled as a leprechaun. In fact we're in the process of getting Asidhari prosecuted by the International Leprechaun Criminal Court (ILCC) for that horrible give us your lucky charms accent he comes up with every time he sees us.
Homagni: The International Leprechaun Criminal Court?
Shane: Er, yes, we're working on getting it recognised.
by: Seehta
This unique Joy Day began with four members of the Singapore Centre taking a ten-hour overnight bus ride to Penang. Our Penang brother-disciple Mr. Palanisamy came to receive us at the Sungei Nibong bus station and, after lunch, we all headed to Penang airport. On our way, we saw the Equatorial Hotel, which reminded us of the 2005-2006 Christmas Trip and our time there with Guru.
A 40-minute scenic flight later, we were welcomed by Kumaran at Langkawi airport, and we drove straight to the Century Suria apartments in mid-town, where two suites had been reserved for the visitors. The rooms were beautiful and spacious with balconies overlooking the sea. Soon, Karteek arrived. (He happened to be visiting Kuala Lumpur at just the right time!) As we started to set up a shrine in our room, two rainbows appeared in succession, giving us great joy.
by Bikash
I am a member of Kailash's singing group. For many years we performed about twenty songs each Celebration. Then one night in August 2000 Guru called Mount Kailash (which meant disciples from different countries in Europe) down to the court at Aspiration Ground and to sing some songs. Afterwards Guru asked Kailash to learn 1,000 songs for next April. I remember how excited many of us were about this project, including myself. I was thrilled by the project, but then I did not realise how much it would change my life.
Kailash chose the songs, and we got nice songbooks and CD's of his recordings. Many boys and girls started to practice. By nature, the group of singers shrank a bit over time, and finally Guru made it a project only for boys.
At our first performance of 1,000 songs there were seventeen boys. For the last six years the group has had 22 singers from eleven countries, including Australia, Austria, England, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Scotland, Slovenia, Switzerland and the US.
- Answers to Life's Greatest Mysteries.....
Dear Viscardi the Wise,
I'm wondering if I should go on the lemon diet. Is it a good idea?
Signed, Looking-for-excuses.
Viscardi the Wise: I would highly recommend starting the lemon diet at any time, except in certain circumstances. These include:
-In the middle of dinner at a friend's house. (This would be just plain rude.)
- When you have just ordered a meal at a restaurant or café. (This would be just plain stupid.)
- In the middle of doing the Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race.
- When you've just heard about a fruit shortage that has driven the price of lemons up ten times.
- During Saint Utthal's Day (March 18).
From: Inspiration Sun edition 3 http://srichinmoyinspiration.com/inspiration-sun
by Sudhira Hay
I came to New York this April expecting the Celebrations to be quite subdued, it being the first time we were gathering as a large group since October. For that reason I was quite happy to hear that Bartika´s jazz band would be playing only at Panorama Cafe. What if other disciples at the court were meditating and thought that the jazz was a distraction, or inappropriate?
Of course, Guru had formed the group himself, jokingly saying, "You must take the vagabonds, no nice girls!" He encouraged us every step of the way. But this was the first Celebrations since Guru's passing, and my thinking was that perhaps we should tone it down a bit and stick with "soulful performances." So it was with some trepidation that I found out we were on the schedule after all, on the 12th, no less. Still, I didn´t have much time to worry, as I was so busy getting ready for the gig.
By Parvati, New YorkThe summer of 2007 will be forever etched in my heart and mind as "the summer of Grace". There are quite a few reasons why this is, but one reason is the "I am so fortunate" series of songs.
Sri Chinmoy composed the first song of this series on 25 June 2007 for the guards: (unofficial)
"I am so fortunate, I am so fortunate, To guard my Lord Supreme's Golden Heart-Gate."
Within the next 48 hours he composed eight more songs in the series. Guru seemed to put a lot of significance to the songs and asked my singing group to learn the songs and to repeatedly perform them. When he composed the 10th song of the series, he asked that I put together a little song booklet and make enough copies "...for everybody. Because everybody should feel that he is fortunate, she is fortunate."
by Prataya
The 12 Hour Walk began in 1980 in honour of Guru's arrival in the West.
In 1980, Guru walked 45 1/4 miles. In 1982 Guru walked 29 miles.
The all-time distance records are:
Boys - 1998 Angikar 65.11 miles : Girls - 2001 Surasa 58.67 miles
This year, April 2008, 43 boys walked and 97 girls for a total of 140 walkers.
By: SuchatulaIt is Sunday morning. I returned from our April Celebrations in New York last Thursday. I am sitting in my room drinking my yummy cup of coffee substitute, eating a delicious piece of very berry pie and reading my copy of Inspiration-Sun. I take a moment to think about what I should write for the next issue. Projjwal was really trying to encourage everyone to write.
The only problem is that I am not sure what I liked best. What was the one thing that touched me the most? It could have been the bhajans during the birthday celebration of Guru's Mother Yogamaya. That was, indeed, a very special day and a perfect way to start the April Celebrations. It could also have been the 12-Hour Walk or the April 13 celebration itself, with a walk-past in front of Guru's Samadhi followed by a walk-past at his house.
by Palash
A few weeks before Celebrations, entering the gate of the tennis court for Saturday afternoon meditation, I received a brightly coloured flyer from Paree. It was an invitation to each local disciple to join an all-local Celebrations performance, the first of its kind. Paree made many heartfelt appeals to singers and non-singers alike to take part, and was so sincerely earnest in her plea for our participation that she inspired many to join in who might not have otherwise. Paree told me later, "I was pretty driven. I tried not to let anyone escape! When I approached Salil for the third time, just to make sure he picked up his practice CD, he said, `You're amazing. You're kind of like a pitbull!'" Paree wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not!
by Aleksandra Djuric
Two thousand pounds of baby food, soy protein and rice was sent from the Onenesss-Heart-Tears and Smiles in Switzerland (http://www.kidstokids.ch) to our partner in Kenya, the Rhein Valley Hospital, which distributed it to thousands of Nakur refugees. For many years, Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the Oneness- Heart-Tears and Smiles, had been in close contact with the Kenyan champions Tegla Loroupe and Paul Tergat. Both these athletes had visited Sri Chinmoy in New York and discussed their humanitarian work in Kenya. In April 2007, Sri Chinmoy asked that humanitarian aid be sent from Switzerland to Kenya on his behalf. In an interview,Tegla commented: "Sri Chinmoy has been an inspiration for me personally since I met him for the first time in 1995 in New York. Since then we have grown very close. I thought the Team of doctors and volunteers from Rhein Valley Hospital was going to forget me, but then I found out that we have an inner connection. I want to say: He is a great leader and a spiritual person."